Three things we learned

2. Cleveland coach Mike Pettine visited Johnny Manziel in treatment last week, but the Browns are looking at other quarterbacks. Pettine said it was “probably accurate” the Browns will try to find a quarterback in free agency.

Unlimited Digital Access: Only $0.99 For Your First Month

Get full access to The Charlotte Observer content across all your devices.

3. Detroit appears to be closing in on a deal with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he’s optimistic a deal will get done, adding the “essential elements” are in place.

Observations

▪ Duke guard Laken Tomlinson, projected as a second-rounder, shouldn’t have a problem with the Wonderlic test. The double major in evolutionary anthropology and psychology is interested in becoming a neurosurgeon if football doesn’t work out.

▪ East Carolina’s Shane Carden is one of three QBs who will stay an extra day to throw in the defensive back drills. After leading the nation with 617 pass attempts last fall, Carden – a Brett Favre doppelganger – should have plenty of stamina.

▪ Rex Ryan is still one of the NFL’s most colorful figures, but the new Buffalo Bills coach wouldn’t take the bait on questions about “Deflategate” or Mark Sanchez. Ryan got in a batting stance and pretended to watch a pitch go by.

By the numbers

292 Weight of Coastal Carolina offensive tackle Chad Hamilton, lightest of any offensive lineman at the combine. He was also the shortest, at 6-foot-2.

12 Players from Florida State participating in the combine, most of any school and one more than Alabama.

Panthers prospects to watch

Players who could be of interest to Carolina:

La’el Collins: The Panthers are among the 22 teams the LSU offensive tackle will meet with in Indianapolis. Collins says some teams think he could play right tackle for a couple of seasons before shifting to the left side.

Andrus Peat: The Stanford tackle has good bloodlines – his father, Todd, was an NFL lineman for seven years – and a huge frame (6-7, 316). Peat says he doesn’t agree with the perception that he’s not tough enough.

Cedric Ogbuehi: The Texas A&M tackle won’t do anything but the bench press after tearing his ACL in the Liberty Bowl. But Ogbuehi’s long arms (357/8) and big upside could convince the Panthers to take a player who might not be ready for training camp.

They said it

“The first thing he said was, ‘Thanks for breaking all my records,’” – Carden, on meeting former Pirates and NFL QB David Garrard at the Senior Bowl.

“It was terrible. Next question,” – Ryan, jokingly, on watching the Patriots win the Super Bowl.

What’s next?

Thursday’s highlight: Quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Winston will meet with the media, as will Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera.

Combine on TV: News conferences, 2-4 p.m., NFL Network.

Top Tweets

Jay Gruden: &quot;We will go into the season with Robert as the No. 1 guy.&quot; ...That&#39;s a far stronger statement than Gruden ended season on.

things to do

Read Next

Carolina Panthers rookie Jordan Scarlett fell in the 2019 NFL Draft because of character concerns stemming from his 2017 yearlong suspension at Florida. Here’s how he proved he learned from his mistake.